"Depression is connected with the past, anxiety latches on to the future, but holding a camera — being alert to the world around us — is the antidote to all that. Photography helps keep one in the present." (Quote by Karen Molson)

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Cold, Hard Water

This week’s photos are brought to you by the letter “I”, for “ice”.(Weekly Photo – Week #09, February 26, 2014)

Last week a friend asked me what I was going to post on my blog this week and she wondered if it would be “igloos” for the letter “I”. Close guess, but no cigar! This week it is about ice.

For what seemed like a brief moment this past weekend, we came out of the winter deep freeze to experience about 20mm of rain and above freezing temperatures. Then we were once again plunged into the winter deep freeze. So, I believe it is only appropriate that ice would be a great photo topic for this week.

Let us start with a few recent photos taken at the Rideau Falls here in Ottawa. This past Saturday a close friend asked me if we could go for a drive, I asked where, and she asked if we could go see the Rideau Falls. There were two interesting sights to see there:  the frozen waterfalls where the Rideau River flows into the Ottawa River, and  the cutting of the ice on the Rideau River to help manage the water flow, especially after heavy rains and snow melt.

Channels are cut into the river ice near the Rideau Falls to help manage the water flow as we move closer to spring.

Rideau Falls where the Rideau River flows into the Ottawa River.

The remainder of these photos were taken at different times and all have an ice theme.

St Lawrence River near Petite Riviere St Francois, Quebec

After the Ice Storm

Where would we be today if this was the apple that Eve found?

Ice hotel near Quebec City where, during the winter, you can book an overnight stay. No kidding!

After the Ice Storm

Melting ice on a small pond.

After the Ice Storm

Ice Snake Slithering Down a Branch

Now for a piece of trivia regarding water and ice. Have you ever wondered why lakes do not freeze solid to the bottom of the lake? It is because water has a unique property in that water is most dense at the temperature of 4° Centigrade. That means that water at the freezing point of 0° will always be above the denser and slightly warmer water sitting at the bottom of the lake.